Thursday, February 21, 2008

Taking Off

As planned-I visited the Screen Archives Entertainment website @ 3:00 PM today to order a copy of the 8-CD Limited Edition Box Set of Superman-The Music (1978-1988)...



The process was anything but enjoyable (or quick). Demand for something like this is always tricky thing to predict. Apparently, not even the folks at SAE were sure what would happen. There was so much additional traffic trying to log on the site this afternoon their internal server was clogged and by 3:02 PM it was down. After many failed attempts it took me about 2 hrs. and 15 minutes to complete the transaction.Very frustrating to say the least... Everything went fine. Because shortly afterwards, I checked, and the funds were already transferred.

The UK site Superman Cinema has devoted an entire section to the release...Among the information found within those web pages are detailed track listings and running times for each disc:

Superman The Movie [2 disc]

Superman II [1 disc]

Superman III [1 disc]

Superman IV [2 disc]

Ruby Spears Animated Series [1 disc]

Extra! Alternates, Bonus Cues [1 disc]



Among the F.A.Q.'s about the product I found this most interesting:

Q. Is it limited to 3000 units?

A. The Superman set is limited to an initial run of 3000 units. Because all of the music was recorded in Europe (and the Ron Jones material was a non-union session), FSM is not limited in how many they are allowed to make within the terms of their license. However, the sets are very expensive to produce so the decision to do a second run will be based on how well the first one does. But even if it happens it might not be right away.

Q. If there is another pressing, will they include the 160 page book?

A. It's too early to say what [Film Score Monthly] plans to do. They may elect to re-release the CDs with standard liner notes, but this is speculative on my part. I guess it depends on how quickly they sell the inventory.

Q. I have the Rhino discs; I don't want to buy Superman yet again! Can they release the soundtracks separately?

A. The terms of their license with Warner Bros.. only allows them to release the music in a box-set. Superman The Movie sounds superior to the Rhino release because the producers had access to the 6 track, which was used for the 2001 DVD release. The other scores are exceptional too, not just musically but sonically as well. It's your money, your choice.

Based on what happened this afternoon, I expect there to be an additional pressing at some point down the road...But the 2nd run will most likely be in "limited" numbers as well.

I can't wait to read that 160 page book of liner notes...!

I have the Rhino release...But considering the promised improved sound (and the other discs in the set) it's worth the re-buy.

I'll keep ya informed as to when the set arrives and then I will have more to say... I'm sure

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